(AN: Note this is not a love story, but there are romantic elements that will be subplots. Anyways I hope you enjoy this rocky start I've written.)
Prologue
-Nightclaw's POV-
It has been 14 years since my dad returned from the future. Granted he hasn't talked to much on the experience. I don't ask about it because I could tell it affected him like my captivity with Drago Bloodfist affected me. On a positive note, life is calm in Warfang and the Realms seem to be at peace. I signed up with my dad to help teach young dragons aerial maneuvers and my sister decided to work with mom and give counseling to people who need it. She's actually quite good at it. Today is the graduation ceremony for all the young dragons from the academy and everyone is attending. Well, everyone but Serenit. She is going to be part of the ceremony since she is graduating today. The students already took all their exams regarding history and other items, but today they will be tested on elemental abilities and flight. Dad and I arrived at the arena early and set up the course that the students would be flying through. He let me launch the rings and they flew into their respective places. We still had some time to kill and my dad could tell I was bored. "Hey Nightclaw."
"Yeah dad?" I asked him.
"Since the students won't be here for a while how about you and I take a crack at the course? I know you've been itching to beat me in a race for a while now, so let's see how good you are." He replied. He isn't wrong about me wanting to beat him. Ever since I was 7 and saw my dad do his races I've always wanted to be a speed demon. I challenged him to a few races and I won, but I found out later that he let me win since I was young. After I figured that out I began training on my own time, racing through all of the race courses and even creating some custom tracks with the rings. I managed to almost break the sound barrier a few times, but I couldn't quite do it yet. Never the less, I decided to take his offer since I wanted to actually beat him.
"No holding back like the last few times." I told him. He laughed a little and we got ready to race. He tapped his claw on the ground and we both shot into the course. The course was designed with agility in mind, something I knew I had a slight disadvantage in. I pressed on however and I managed to catch up to my dad. We flew through the tight turns and loops that the course offered, but we remained neck and neck. As we approached the final turn, it actually began to look like I was passing dad. Then I made a crucial mistake. I forgot to split my spines in the turn. As I was fumbling in the turn trying not to crash into a ring, dad flew over my head, patted it with his front paw, and flew out of the turn. When I finished the turn dad already completed the course and I sighed a little in defeat.
"That was a good race son, but you forgot to split your spines. I have no doubt however, that if you did you would have actually won that race." Dad told me. I smiled a little and he chuckled. Then the door to the arena opened and the graduating students stepped inside. "Hello students. Today is an important day, and today is the day that we deem you ready to enter your adult lives. You will be tested on your agility and speed in this course. Now who is ready to go first?" After dad said this the entire class raised their paws. Dad chose a fire dragoness to go first and the dragoness began her flight. She adhered to what dad and I taught her very strictly and quickly finished the course. The crowd clapped for her and the next dragon stepped up. After a few more dragons did their runs it was Serenit's turn. I felt a little warm as she walked past me and dad. Ok you caught me, I like her. She is sweet, tender, and has a kind heart. She also has the looks that come with it. She is a very sleek and slender dragoness. Her horns and spines look like they could just slice through the air as she flies. She is one of the best fliers of the class as well. As Serenit was flying, dad could tell I was daydreaming about her and nudged me with his elbow. I snapped out of my thoughts and shuffled my front paws in embarrassment. Serenit soon finished her flight and it was time for the next dragon. After the rest of the dragons finished their flight exams we all went to the main hall of the temple for the actual ceremony. Dad and I joined mom and Raven and Spyro, Cynder, David, and Talos joined us. I noticed Spyro and Cynder smile once the students entered the room. The students lined up in front of the guardians and Terrador spoke up.
"Young dragons, today is an important day in your lives. Today you all graduate from this academy and take your place among the citizens of Warfang." Ask Terrador concluded his opening speech the crowd clapped.
"Instructors, please stand up." Cyril said. Spyro, Cynder, Dad, and I stood up. "Have these dragons passed their exams?" We all nod.
"Then by the powers of the ancients, we give you, young dragons, the rights of full citizenship. Welcome to Warfang." Volteer said. The dragons beamed. Then the dragons exited the room and the on lookers followed suit. We managed to catch up with Serenit. Cynder and Spyro hugged her.
"So, how does it feel?" Raven asked Serenit.
"It feels great actually." She replied. We spent a few minutes talking before David and Talos left to go catch up with some other dragons. After they left, Spyro, Cynder, and Serenit left to go celebrate Serenit's graduation. I inwardly sighed, and sadly my sister noticed.
"I think you two would make a great pair." She said.
"Raven." I whinned in embarrassment. She chuckled.
"Oh come on Nightclaw you are so obvious." She told me.
"Ok if I'm so obvious then what is your thing for Ignis called?" I asked her she blushed and shuffled a little.
"Shut up." She answered. I heard dad chuckle over our conversation. I decided to leave them and go back to my room in the temple. I figured that since I was an adult dragon now that I would need a room to call my own so I asked Terrador and he gave it to me. It was around the size of my mom and dad's room, but it was emptier. I chose to leave it more open since I haven't really been one for confined spaces. I lied down on frozen patch on the floor I called my bed and just thought about the day. Somehow my thoughts drifted to 'her' and try as I might, I couldn't pull myself back to reality. I began thinking about how I wanted to tell her how I truly felt towards her, but every plan I thought of was either too stupid or too awkward. I sighed. "How am I going to do this?" I asked myself. Serenit and I have been best friends since she was hatched, you would think this would be easier to do. I finally settled on just asking her on a flight, but I decided to wait until tomorrow. I just hope I can muster the courage to do so.